American Heart Association

News about American Heart Association, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Jun. 21, 2015

American hospitals have been able to reduce death rate from coronary heart disease by about 38 percent from 2003 to 2013 without any major medical advances, largely due to streamlining of emergency treatment; key has been detailed analysis of potentially fatal holdups and inefficiencies, as well as nationwide campaign led by American College of Cardiology and American Heart Assn (Series: Mending Hearts). MORE

Nov. 18, 2014

Study reported at annual American Heart Assn meeting finds cholesterol-lowering drug ezetimibe, or Zetia, can protect people from heart attacks and strokes; shows drug is alternative for millions of people who cannot tolerate statins or do not respond to them sufficiently. MORE

Dec. 23, 2013

CPR may seem intimidating as a bystander, but chest compressions alone could save a loved one who has fallen into sudden cardiac arrest. MORE

Nov. 21, 2013

Letter from John G Harold, president, American College of Cardiology, and Mariell Jessup, president, American Heart Assn, comments on Nov 18 article on flaws found in online risk calculator for cholesterol. MORE

Nov. 18, 2013

Deep flaws are discovered in online calculator meant to help doctors assess risks and treatment options in light of sweeping new guidelines for lowering cholesterol, potentially causing doctors to mistakenly determine that millions more people are candidates for statin drugs; revelation is major embarrassment for the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, which provided the guidelines. MORE

Nov. 14, 2013

New guidelines released by American College of Cardiology and American Heart Assn advise that doctors should not put most people on cholesterol-lowering medications like statins based on cholesterol levels alone; guidelines represent surprising change from decades of protocol on preventing heart disease and stroke. MORE

Nov. 14, 2013

Op-Ed article by author John D Abramson and cardiologist Rita F Redberg criticizes recommendation by American Heart Assn and American College of Cardiology that millions of Americans should immediately start taking statins; holds recommendation is consequence of simply expanding the definition of who should take drugs and who will benefit the pharmaceutical industry more than anyone else. MORE

May. 9, 2013

The American Heart Association said owning a dog was “probably associated” with better heart health. MORE

Apr. 19, 2012

American Heart Association issues a rare scientific statement, concluding that gum disease has not been shown to raise the risk of cardiovascular illness; conclusion is based on an exhaustive three-year analysis. MORE